A guide for online safety during the Easter mini-vacation and every day

During the Easter Holidays period, the risk of online frauds may increase, draws attention the national project #OnlineSafety, initiated by the Romanian Police, the National Cybersecurity Directorate (DNSC) and the Romanian Banks Association (ARB).

They launched „Digital Protection Guide for Users”, a tool that offers recommendations for preventing online fraud. Structured in 10 parts, it helps you identify scam attempts and protect yourself with simple measures:

1. Attention to suspicious links! - a single wrong click can lead to the theft of personal or bank data.
2. Your card details are only yours! – if you need to receive money, you need to provide the IBAN, not the card details.
3. Check and update the apps on the phone! – the updates contain essential security fixes.
4. „Zero risks and guaranteed profits”? It's a fraud! - real investments do not offer total guarantees of profit.
5. Review digital rules for little ones! - children are frequently targeted by fraudsters in the online environment.
6. Check your privacy settings on social networks! - public information can be used in personalized frauds.
7. Ignore suspicious calls from "banks" or other institutions! - real institutions do not request sensitive data by phone.
8. Update your passwords regularly! - old or reused passwords are vulnerable.
9. Activate two-step authentication (2FA)! - offers an additional level of account protection.
10. Do not use public Wi‑Fi networks for online payments! - data transmitted through unsecured networks can be intercepted by fraudsters.

Fraudsters take advantage of the holiday context

The representatives of the initiative draw attention that the Easter period, marked by online shopping, parcel deliveries, and donation campaigns, creates a favorable context for fraudsters. They exploit people's haste, emotion, and trust to make them act impulsively.

The warning comes in the context in which computer frauds are rapidly increasing. According to DNSC data, online fraud attempts have increased by over 90% in the recent period. The main method used has become social engineering – a technique based on credible scenarios, meant to exploit the victims' emotions and make them take quick decisions without checks.

What do you do if you have been a victim of fraud

If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud:

• Contact the bank immediately to take the necessary measures. Banca Transilvania can be contacted at 0264 308 055 or by e-mail, at contact@btrl.ro.
• File a complaint with the Police, necessary to start the investigation.
• Report the incident on the platform pnrisc.dnsc.ro or at number 1911 – thus contributing to the prevention of other similar cases.

On the platform sigurantaonline.ro, alongside the full version of the guide recently launched, are also available interactive questionnaires and relevant examples of online fraud.